Mistake-prone Vikings lose to Lions 34-24

DETROIT (AP) — Adrian Peterson took his first handoff of the 2013 season, cut to the right and outran the Detroit secondary for a 78-yard touchdown.

DUANE BURLESON

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (7) hands off the ball to running back Adrian Peterson (28) during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (7) hands off the ball to running back Adrian Peterson (28) during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is stopped by Detroit Lions outside linebacker Ashlee Palmer (58) during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is stopped by Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (7) is pressured by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh during the third quarter of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is congratulated by quarterback Christian Ponder after scoring on a 4-yard touchdown reception during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Peterson's first touchdown made it 7-0, and the 2012 Associated Press Most Valuable Player looked well on his way to another huge game after rushing for 2,097 yards last season.

Detroit coach Jim Schwartz went for it on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter, only to have Joique Bell's run negated by Brandon Pettigrew's holding penalty.

The Lions settled for a field goal to make it 7-6.

Detroit linebacker DeAndre Levy appeared to have returned an interception for a touchdown, but Ndamukong Suh was called for an illegal low block during the return against center John Sullivan, who was well behind the play.

"I spoke to him, we're good," Suh said. "I wasn't by any means going for his knees. He knows that. We had a great conversation about it at halftime. He understood. My end point was his waist, to cut him off."

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw an interception on the next play, and Minnesota took advantage, going ahead 14-6 on Peterson's short burst.

Ponder's second interception of the game — with 2:14 left in the second quarter — proved costly when the Lions finally reached the end zone on Bell's 2-yard dive with 10 seconds left in the half.

Bell leaped over a pile and extended his arms, and although the ball was jarred loose, a video review showed it had reached the goal line.

After a 1-yard touchdown run by Bell in the third quarter gave the Lions a 20-14 lead. Bush's long touchdown made it 27-17, although the Vikings answered with Ponder's 4-yard scoring pass to Peterson.

Minnesota was still in decent shape at the start of the fourth, but two more turnovers did the Vikings in.

"Turnovers on the road — at home as well, but on the road in particular — are tough sometimes to overcome," Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier said. "Especially when you put an offense like that, at times on a short field."

Detroit's final touchdown came after a roughing the passer penalty on Letroy Guion on third-and-18 kept the drive alive. Xavier Rhodes was called for pass interference on another third down play, and Stafford's 1-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Fauria made it 34-24 with 6:47 remaining.

"That's something that we'll have to learn from," Frazier said. "Our guys are trying to be aggressive and get after the quarterback. ... Those two were definitely costly."